Genesis Chapter 14 War, Are you Ready?
In Genesis chapter 14, we meet Lot, and Abram caught up in a war. A war neither of them started, yet here they are in the middle of it. As the story unfolds, verses 1-4 state, “At the time when Amraphel was king of Shina, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war. Against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king Bela (that is Zoar). All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Dead Sea Valley). For twelve years, they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.” It starts with war, then continues with commitment, and finally victory.
Verses 11 & 12 state, “The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possession since he was living in Sodom.” However, Lot had nothing to do with the war since he had now moved into Sodom. He was one of the casualties. Sometimes, we may find ourselves as a casualty not because we actively participate but because of passive participation. As the story continues, we see the importance of allies, People who will stand with you regardless of the circumstances. Verses 13 & 14 state, “A man who escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew; now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all who were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.” Please don’t miss this Abram had 318 trained men meaning he was ready. Abram walked with God, and by doing so, he was aware of his surroundings, so he was actively ready.
God wants our relationship with Him to be one where the truth is always before us. We live in a fallen world. The word of God states in John 16:33 conveys this message “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But Take Heart! I have overcome the world.” As children of God, we stand in victory, in verses 15 & 16 state, “During the night Abram divided his men to attach them, and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.” No victory would be complete without recognizing the author of that victory with praise and celebration.
Verse 18-20 states, “Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise is to God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Abram continues to honor God by not aligning himself with anyone that stands against God verse 22-28, states, “But Abram said to the king of Sodom, with a raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord. God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, I made Abram rich. I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me to Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. Let them have their share.” Life is full of choices; walking with God requires the choice of exchanging your will for His. My prayer today is, Lord, let me honor you by choosing your will over my own despite what is happening around me.
Remember, God loves you, and so do I.